Agreement with the Department of Energy -- Model Provisions for CERCLA Federal Facility Agreements
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460
MAY 27 1988
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Agreement with the Department of Energy -- Model Provisions for CERCLA Federal Facility Agreements
FROM:
J. Winston Porter
Assistant Administrator
TO:
Regional Administrators
Regions I-X
I am pleased to transmit to you model language for key provisions of CERCLA Federal Facility
Agreements with the Department of Energy (DOE). This language has been mutually agreed to by EPA
and DOE Headquarters.
The attached provisions deal primarily with policy issues which required agreement between the
two Agencies before site-specific agreements could be finalized. The attached language should be
incorporated into the agreements you are now negotiating, and into future agreements, to insure national
consistency in dealing with DOE facilities which involve CERCLA activities. Language in brackets
indicates those areas which can be adjusted depending on site-specific considerations.
Please note that there are many other important parts of the agreements which the Region must
negotiate, notably those sections dealing with the actual work that needs to be performed at each specific
DOE site and the schedules to be met. Attached, therefore, is a generic table of contents which lists other
important sections which are normally included in the agreements, but which do not require model
language. Also, individual State concerns should be factored into each agreement, as it is highly
desirable that States participate in Federal facility cleanups.
I hope these model provisions will help you in quickly concluding the negotiations you are
currently conducting with DOE, and that such negotiations will now become more routine. If you have
any questions about these provisions or their implementation, please contact Christopher Grundler,
Director of the Federal Facilities Compliance Task Force, OWPE, at 475-9801. Task Force staff is
available to support your negotiations, or to answer questions which may come up relating to the model
provisions.
I look forward to working with you as we continue to work toward making Federal facility
environmental compliance a model for others.
Attachments
cc:
Lee Thomas, EPA
Jim Barnes, EPA
Ernest Baynard, DOE
Roger Marzulla, DOJ
Tom Adams, OECM
Lawrence Jensen, OGC
Jennifer Joy Wilson, OEA
Waste Management Division Directors
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION ______
AND THE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
IN THE MATTER OF:
The U.S. Department of Energy's
FEDERAL FACILITY AGREEMENT UNDER CERCLA SECTION 120
[NAME OF FACILITY]
Administrative Docket Number:
Based on the information available to the Parties on the effective date of this FEDERAL
FACILITY AGREEMENT (Agreement), and without trial or adjudication of any issues of fact or law,
the Parties agree as follows:
JURISDICTION
Each Party is entering into this Agreement pursuant to the following authorities:
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Region _ , enters into those portions of this Agreement that relate to the remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) pursuant to Section 120 (e) (1) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
(CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. § 9620 (e) (1), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization
Act of 1986 (SARA), Pub. L. 99-499 (hereinafter jointly referred to as CERCLA/SARA or CERCLA)
and (Sections 6001, 3008 (h) and 3004 (u) and (v) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA), 42 U.S.C. [§§ 6961, 6928(h), 6924(u) and (v),] as amended by the Hazardous and Solid Waste
Amendments of 1984 (HSWA) (hereinafter jointly referred to as RCRA/HSWA or RCRA) and
Executive order 12580;
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U.S. EPA, Region ____ enters into those portions of this Agreement that relate to interim
remedial actions and final remedial actions pursuant to Section 120(e)(2) of CERCLA/SARA, (Sections
6001, 3008(h) and 3004(u) and (v) of] RCRA and Executive Order 12580;
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the DOE enters into those portions of this Agreement that relate to the RI/FS pursuant to
Section 120(e)(1) of CERCLA, [Sections 6001, 3008(h) and 3004(u) and(v) of] RCRA, Executive Order
12580, the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. §4321, and the Atomic Energy Act of 1954
(AEA), as amended, 42 U.S.C.§2201;
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the DOE enters into those portions of this Agreement that relate to interim remedial
actions and final remedial actions pursuant to Section 120(e)(2) of CERCLA/SARA, [Sections 6001,
3004(u) and 3008(h) of] RCRA, Executive Order 12580 and the AEA.
PURPOSE
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The general purposes of this Agreement are to:
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ensure that the environmental impacts associated with past and present activities at
the Site are thoroughly investigated and appropriate remedial action taken as necessary to protect the
public health, welfare and the environment;
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establish a procedural framework and schedule for developing, implementing and
monitoring appropriate response actions at the Site in accordance with CERCLA/SARA, the NCP,
Superfund guidance and policy, RCRA, RCRA guidance and policy; and,
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facilitate cooperation, exchange of information and participation of the Parties in
such actions.
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Specifically, the purposes of this Agreement are to:
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Identify Interim Remedial Action (IRA) alternatives which are appropriate at the
Site prior to the implementation of final remedial action(s) for the Site. IRA alternatives shall be
identified and proposed to the Parties as early as possible prior to formal proposal of IRAs to U.S. EPA
pursuant to CERCLA/ SARA. This process is designed to promote cooperation among the Parties in
identifying IRA alternatives prior to selection of final IRAs.
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Establish requirements for the performance of a RI to determine fully the nature and
extent of the threat to the public health or welfare or the environment caused by the release and
threatened release of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants at the Site and to establish
requirements for the Performance of a FS for the Site to identify, evaluate, and select alternatives for the
appropriate remedial action(s) to prevent, mitigate, or abate the release or threatened release of
hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants at the Site in accordance with CERCLA/SARA.
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Identify the nature, objective and schedule of response actions to be taken at the Site.
Response actions at the Site shall attain that degree of cleanup of hazardous substances, pollutants or
contaminants mandated by CERCLA/SARA.
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Implement the selected interim and final remedial action(s) in accordance with
CERCLA/SARA.
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Assure compliance with federal and state hazardous waste laws and regulations for
matters covered by this Agreement.
STATUTORY COMPLIANCE/RCRA-CERCLA INTEGRATION
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The Parties intend to integrate the DOE's CERCLA response obligations and RCRA
corrective action obligations which relate to the release(s) of hazardous substances, hazardous wastes,
pollutants or contaminants covered by this Agreement into this comprehensive Agreement. Therefore,
the Parties intend that activities covered by this Agreement will be deemed to achieve compliance with
CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. §9601 et seq.; to satisfy the corrective action requirements of Sections 3004(u) and
(v) of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. §6924(u) and (v), for a RCRA permit, and Section 3008(h), 42 U.S.C. §6928(h),
for interim status facilities; and to meet or exceed all applicable or relevant and appropriate Federal and
State laws and regulations, to the extent required by Section 121 of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. §9621.
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Based upon the foregoing, the Parties intend that any remedial action selected,
implemented and completed under this Agreement shall be deemed by the Parties to be protective of
human health and the environment such that remediation of releases covered by this Agreement shall
obviate the need for further corrective action under RCRA. The Parties agree that with respect to
releases of hazardous waste covered by this Agreement, RCRA shall be considered an applicable or
relevant and appropriate requirement pursuant to Section 121 of CERCLA.
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If a permit is issued to the DOE for on-going hazardous waste management activities at
the Site, U.S. EPA shall reference and incorporate any appropriate provisions, including appropriate
schedules (and the provision for extension of such schedules), of this Agreement into such permit. 'The
Parties intend that the judicial review of any permit conditions which reference this Agreement shall, to
the extent authorized by law, only be reviewed under the provisions of CERCLA.
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Nothing in this Agreement shall alter the DOE's authority with respect to removal
actions conducted pursuant to Section 104 of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. §9604.
CONSULTATION WITH U.S. EPA
Review and Comment Process for Draft and Final Documents
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Applicability:
The provisions of this Part establish the procedures that shall be used by the DOE and U.S. EPA
to provide the Parties with appropriate notice, review, comment, and response to comments regarding
RI/FS and RD/RA documents, specified herein as either primary or secondary documents. In accordance
with Section 120 of CERCLA and 10 U.S.C. §2705, the DOE will normally be responsible for issuing
primary and secondary documents to U.S. EPA. As of the effective date of this Agreement, all draft and
final reports for any deliverable document identified herein shall be prepared, distributed and subject to
dispute in accordance with Paragraphs B through J below.
The designation of a document as "draft" or "final" is solely for purposes of consultation with
U.S. EPA in accordance with this Part. Such designation does not affect the obligation of the Parties to
issue documents, which may be referred to herein as "final" to the public for review and comment as
appropriate and as required by law.
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General Process for RI/FS and RD/RA documents:
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Primary documents include those reports that are major, discrete portions of RI/FS or
RD/RA activities. Primary documents are initially issued by the DOE in draft subject to review and
comment by U.S. EPA. Following receipt of comments on a particular draft primary document, the DOE
will respond to the comments received and issue a draft final primary document subject to dispute
resolution. The draft final primary document will become the final primary document either 30 days
after the period established for review of a draft final document if dispute resolution is not invoked or as
modified by decision of the dispute resolution process.
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Secondary documents include those reports that are discrete portions of the primary
documents and are typically input or feeder documents. Secondary documents are issued by the DOE in
draft subject to review and comment by U.S. EPA. Although the DOE will respond to comments
received, the draft secondary documents may be finalized in the context of the corresponding primary
documents. A secondary document may be disputed at the time the corresponding draft final primary
document is issued.
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Primary Reports:
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The DOE shall complete and transmit draft reports for the following primary documents
to U.S. EPA for review and comment in accordance with the provisions of this Part:
[Note: The list set forth below represents potential primary documents and the type of
information that typically would be generated during a CERCLA cleanup at an NPL site. This list, and
the list below of secondary documents, includes discrete portions of the RI/FS or RD/RA and are subject
to change in accordance with the NCP, DOE and U.S. EPA guidance, and site specific requirements. In
practice, the documents will also vary with scope and nature of the project, and may either be combined
or broken out into separate volumes.]
- [Scope of Work]
- [RI/FS Work Plan, including Sampling and Analysis Plan and QAPP]
- [Risk Assessment]
- [RI Report]
- [Initial Screening of Alternatives]
- [FS Report]
- [Proposed Plan]
- [Record of Decision]
- [Remedial Design]
- [Remedial Action Work Plan]
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Only the draft final reports for the primary documents identified above shall be subject
to dispute resolution. The DOE shall complete and transmit draft primary documents in Accordance
with the timetable and deadlines established in Part ____ of this agreement.
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Secondary Documents:
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The DOE shall complete and transmit draft reports for the following secondary
documents to U.S. EPA for review and comment in accordance with the provisions of this Part:
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[Initial Remedial Action / Data Quality objectives]
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[Site Characterization Summary]
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[Detailed Analysis of Alternatives]
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[Post-screening Investigation Work Plan]
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[Treatability Studies]
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[Sampling and Data Results]
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Although U.S. EPA may comment on the draft reports for the secondary documents
listed above, such documents shall not be subject to dispute resolution except as provided by Paragraph
B hereof. Target dates shall be established for the completion and transmission of draft secondary
reports pursuant to Part___ of this Agreement.
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Meetings of the Project Managers on Development of Reports:
The Project Managers shall meet approximately every [30] days, except as otherwise agreed by
the Parties, to review and discuss the progress of work being performed at the site on the primary and
secondary documents. Prior to preparing any draft report specified in Paragraphs C and D above, the
Project Managers shall meet to discuss the report results in an effort to reach a common understanding,
to the maximum extent practicable, with respect to the results to be presented in the draft report.
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Identification and Determination of Potential ARARs:
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For those primary reports or secondary documents that consist of or include ARAR
determinations, prior to the issuance of a draft report, the Project Managers shall meet to identify and
propose, to the best of their ability, all potential ARARs pertinent to the report being addressed. Draft
ARAR determinations shall be prepared by the DOE in accordance with Section 121(d)(2) of CERCLA,
the NCP and pertinent guidance issued by U.S. EPA, which is not inconsistent with CERCLA and the
NCP.
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In identifying potential ARARs, the Parties recognize that actual ARARs can be
identified only on a site-specific basis and that ARARs depend on the specific hazardous substances,
pollutants and contaminants at a site, the particular actions proposed as a remedy and the characteristics
of a site. The Parties recognize that ARAR identification is necessarily an iterative process and that
potential ARARs must be re-examined throughout the RI/FS process until a ROD is issued.
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Review and Comment on Draft Reports
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The DOE shall complete and transmit each draft primary report to U.S. EPA on or before
the corresponding deadline established for the issuance of the report. The DOE shall complete and
transmit the draft secondary document in accordance with the target dates established for the issuance of
such reports established pursuant to Part__ of this Agreement.
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Unless the Parties mutually agree to another time period, all draft reports shall be subject
to a 30-day period for review and comment. Review of any document by the U.S. EPA may concern all
aspects of the report (including completeness) and should include, but is not limited to, technical
evaluation of any aspect of the document, and consistency with CERCLA, the NCP and any pertinent
guidance or policy promulgated by the U.S. EPA. Comments by the U.S. EPA shall be provided with
adequate specificity so that the DOE may respond to the comment and, if appropriate, make changes to
the draft report. Comments shall refer to any pertinent sources of authority or references upon which the
comments are based, and, upon request of the DOE, the U.S. EPA shall provide a copy of the cited
authority or reference. In cases involving complex or unusually lengthy reports, U.S. EPA may extend
the 30-day comment period for an additional 20 days by written notice to the DOE prior to the end of the
30-day period. on or before the close of the comment period, U.S. EPA shall transmit by next day mail
their written comments to the DOE.
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Representatives of the DOE shall make themselves readily available to U.S. EPA during
the comment period for purposes of informally responding to questions and comments on draft reports.
Oral comments made during such discussions need not be the subject of a written response by the DOE
on the close of the comment period.
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In commenting on a draft report which contains a proposed ARAR determination, U.S.
EPA shall include a reasoned statement of whether they object to any portion of the proposed ARAR
determination. To the extent that U.S. EPA does object, it shall explain the bases for its objection in
detail and shall identify any ARARs which it believes were not properly addressed in the proposed
ARAR determination.
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Following the close of the comment period for a draft report, the DOE shall give full
consideration to all written comments on the draft report submitted during the comment period. Within
30 days of the close of the comment period on a draft secondary report, the DOE shall transmit to U.S.
EPA its written response to comments received within the comment period. Within 30 days of the close
of the comment period on a draft primary report, the DOE shall transmit to U.S. EPA a draft final
primary report, which shall include the DOE's response to all written comments, received within the
comment period. While the resulting draft final report shall be the responsibility of the DOE, it shall be
the product of consensus to the maximum extent possible.
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The DOE may extend the 30-day period for either responding to comments on a draft
report or for issuing the draft final primary report for an additional 20 days by providing notice to U.S.
EPA. In appropriate circumstances, this time period may be further extended in accordance with Part__
hereof.
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Availability of Dispute Resolution for Draft Final Primary Documents:
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Dispute resolution shall be available to the Parties for draft final primary reports as set
forth in Part ____.
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When dispute resolution is invoked on a draft primary report, work may be stopped in
accordance with the procedures set forth in Part _____ regarding dispute resolution.
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Finalization of Reports:
The draft final primary report shall serve as the final primary report if no party invokes dispute
resolution regarding the document or, if invoked, at completion of the dispute resolution process should
the DOE's position be sustained. If the DOE's determination is not sustained in the dispute resolution
process, the DOE shall prepare, within not more than 35 days, a revision of the draft final report which
conforms to the results of dispute resolution. In appropriate circumstances, the time period for this
revision period may be extended in accordance with Part ____ hereof.
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Subsequent Modifications of Final Reports:
Following finalization of any primary report pursuant to Paragraph I above, U.S. EPA or the
DOE may seek to modify the report, including seeking additional field work, pilot studies, computer
modeling or other supporting technical work, only as provided in Paragraphs 1 and 2 below.
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U.S. EPA or the DOE may seek to modify a report after finalization if it determines,
based on new information (i.e., information that became available, or conditions that became known,
after the report was finalized) that the requested modification is necessary. U.S. EPA or the DOE may
seek such a modification by submitting a concise written request to the Project Manager of the other
Party. The request shall specify the nature of the requested modification and how the request is based on
new information.
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In the event that a consensus is not reached by the Project Managers on the need for a
modification, either U.S. EPA or the DOE may invoke dispute resolution to determine if such
modification shall be conducted. Modification of a report shall be required only upon a showing that: (1)
the requested modification is based on significant new information, and (2) the requested modification
could be of significant assistance in evaluating impacts on the public health or the environment, in
evaluating the selection of remedial alternatives, or in protecting human health and the environment.
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Nothing in this Subpart shall alter U.S. EPA's ability to request the performance of
additional work pursuant to Part ____ of this Agreement (Additional Work) which does not constitute
modification of a final document.
RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES
Except as specifically set forth elsewhere in this Agreement, if a dispute arises under this
Agreement, the procedures of this Part shall apply.
All Parties to this Agreement shall make reasonable efforts to informally resolve disputes at the
Project Manager or immediate supervisor level. If resolution cannot be achieved informally, the
procedures of this Part shall be implemented to resolve a dispute.
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Within thirty (30) days after: (1) the period established for review of a draft final
primary document pursuant to Part _ (Review of Submittals) of this Agreement, or (2) any action which
leads to or generates a dispute, the disputing Party shall submit to the other Party a written statement of
dispute setting forth the nature of the dispute, the work affected by the dispute, the disputing Party's
position with respect to the dispute and the information the disputing Party is relying upon to support its
position.
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Prior to any Party's issuance of a written statement of dispute, the disputing Party shall
engage the other Party in informal dispute resolution among the Project Managers and/or their immediate
supervisors. During this informal dispute resolution period the Parties shall meet as many times as are
necessary to discuss and attempt resolution of the dispute.
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If agreement cannot be reached on any issue within the informal dispute resolution
period, the disputing Party shall forward the written statement of dispute to the Dispute Resolution
Committee (DRC) thereby elevating the dispute to the DRC for resolution.
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The DRC will serve as a forum for resolution of disputes for which agreement has not
been reached through informal dispute resolution. The Parties shall each designate one individual and an
alternate to serve on the DRC.. The individuals designated to serve on the DRC shall be employed at the
policy level (SES or equivalent) or be delegated the authority to participate on the DRC for the purposes
of dispute resolution under this Agreement. The U.S. EPA representative on the DRC is the Waste
Management Division Director of U.S. EPA's Region ___. The DOE's designated member is the [DOE
equivalent]. Written notice of any delegation of authority from a Party's designated representative on the
DRC shall be provided to all other Parties pursuant to the procedures of Part ___ (Notices).
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Following elevation of a dispute to the DRC, the DRC shall have twenty-one (21) days
to unanimously resolve the dispute and issue a written decision. If the DRC is unable to unanimously
resolve the dispute within this twenty-one (21) day period the written statement of dispute shall be
forwarded to the Senior Executive Committee (SEC) for resolution.
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The SEC will serve as the forum for resolution of disputes for which agreement has not
been reached by the DRC. The U.S. EPA representative on the SEC is the Regional Administrator of
U.S. EPA's Region ___. The DOE's representative on the SEC is the DOE Operations Manager. The
SEC members shall, as appropriate, confer, meet and exert their best efforts to resolve the dispute and
issue a written decision. If unanimous resolution of the dispute is not reached within twenty-one (21)
days, U.S. EPA's Regional Administrator shall issue a written position on the dispute. The DOE may,
within twenty-one (21) days of the Regional Administrator's issuance of U.S. EPA's position, issue a
written notice elevating the dispute to the Administrator of U.S. EPA for resolution in accordance with
all applicable laws and procedures. In the event that the DOE elects not to elevate the dispute to the
Administrator within the designated twenty-one (21) day escalation period, the DOE shall be deemed to
have agreed with Regional Administrator's written position with respect to the dispute.
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Upon escalation of a dispute to the Administrator of U.S. EPA pursuant to Subpart F, the
Administrator will review and resolve the dispute within twenty-one (21) days. Upon request, and prior
to resolving the dispute, the U.S. EPA Administrator shall meet and confer with the Secretary of the
DOE to discuss the issue(s) under dispute. Upon resolution, the Administrator shall provide the DOE
with a written final decision setting forth resolution of the dispute.
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The pendency of any dispute under this Part shall not affect the DOE's responsibility for
timely performance of the work required by this Agreement, except that the time period for completion
of work affected by such dispute shall be extended for a period of time usually not to exceed the actual
time taken to resolve any good faith dispute in accordance with the procedures specified herein. All
elements of the work required by this Agreement which are not affected by the dispute shall continue and
be completed in accordance with the applicable schedule.
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When dispute resolution is in progress, work affected by the dispute will immediately be
discontinued if the Hazardous Waste Division Director for U.S. EPA's Region _ requests, in writing, that
work related to the dispute be stopped because, in U.S. EPA's opinion, such work is inadequate or
defective, and such inadequacy or defect is likely to yield an adverse effect on human health or the
environment, or is likely to have a substantial adverse effect on the remedy selection or implementation
process. To the extent possible, U.S. EPA shall give the DOE prior notification that a work stoppage
request is forthcoming. After stoppage of work, if the DOE believes that the work stoppage is
inappropriate or may have potential significant adverse impacts, the DOE may meet with the Division
ENFORCEABILITY
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The Parties agree that:
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Upon the effective date of this Agreement, any standard, regulation, condition, requirement
or order which has become effective under CERCLA and is incorporated into this Agreement is
enforceable by any person pursuant to Section 310 of CERCLA, and any violation of such standard,
regulation, condition, requirement or order will be subject to civil penalties under Sections 310(c) and
109 of CERCLA; and
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all timetables or deadlines associated with the development, implementation and completion
of the RI/FS shall be enforceable by any person pursuant to Section 310 of CERCLA, and any violation
of such timetables or deadlines will be subject to civil penalties under Sections 310(c) and 109 of
CERCLA;
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all terms and conditions of this Agreement which relate to interim or final remedial actions,
including corresponding timetables, deadlines or schedules, and all work associated with the interim or
final remedial actions, shall be enforceable by any person pursuant to Section 310(c) of CERCLA, and
any violation of such terms or conditions will be subject to civil penalties under Sections 310(c) and 109
of CERCLA; and
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any final resolution of a dispute pursuant to Part__ of this Agreement which establishes a
term, condition, timetable, deadline or schedule shall be enforceable by any person pursuant to Section
310(c) of CERCLA, and any violation of such term, condition, timetable, deadline or schedule will be
subject to civil penalties under Sections 310(c) and 109 of CERCLA.
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Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as authorizing any person to seek judicial
review of any action or work where review is barred by any provision of CERCLA, including Section
113(h) of CERCLA.
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The Parties agree that all Parties shall have the right to enforce the terms of this
Agreement.
STIPULATED PENALTIES
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In the event that the DOE fails to submit a primary document (i.e., Scope of Work,
RI/FS Work Plan, Risk Assessment, RI Report, Initial Screening of Alternatives, FS Report, Proposed
Plan, Record of Decision, Remedial Design, Remedial Action Work Plan) to U.S. EPA pursuant to the
appropriate timetable-or deadline in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement, or fails to
comply with a term or condition of this Agreement which relates to an interim or final remedial action,
U.S. EPA may assess a stipulated penalty against the DOE. A stipulated penalty may be assessed in an
amount not to exceed $5,000 for the first week (or part thereof), and $10,000 for each additional week
(or part thereof) for which a failure set forth in this Paragraph occurs.
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Upon determining that the DOE has failed in a manner set forth in Paragraph A, U.S.
EPA shall so notify the DOE in writing. If the failure in question is not already subject to dispute
resolution at the time such notice is received, the DOE shall have fifteen (15) days after receipt of the
notice to invoke dispute resolution on the question of whether the failure did in fact occur. The DOE
shall not be liable for the stipulated penalty assessed by U.S. EPA if the failure is determined, through
the dispute resolution process, not to have occurred. No assessment of a stipulated penalty shall be final
until the conclusion of dispute resolution procedures related to the assessment of the stipulated penalty.
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The annual reports required by Section 120(e)(5) of CERCLA shall include, with respect
to each final assessment of a stipulated penalty against the DOE under this Agreement, each of the
following:
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The facility responsible for the failure;
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A statement of the facts and circumstances giving rise to the failure;
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A statement of any administrative or other corrective action taken at the relevant facility,
or a statement of why such measures were determined to be inappropriate;
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A statement of any additional action taken by or at the facility to prevent recurrence of
the same type of failure; and
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The total dollar amount of the stipulated penalty assessed for the particular failure.
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Stipulated penalties assessed pursuant to this Part shall be payable to the Hazardous
Substances Response Trust Fund from funds authorized and appropriated for that specific purpose.
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In no event shall this Part give rise to a stipulated penalty in excess of the amount set
forth in Section 109 of CERCLA.
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This Part shall not affect the DOE's ability to obtain an extension of a timetable, deadline
or schedule pursuant to Part __ of this Agreement.
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Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to render any officer or employee of the DOE personally liable for the payment of any stipulated penalty assessed pursuant to this Part.
EXTENSIONS
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Either a timetable and deadline or a schedule shall be extended upon receipt of a timely
request for extension and when good cause exists for the requested extension. Any request for extension
by the DOE shall be submitted in writing and shall specify:
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The timetable and deadline or the schedule that is sought to be extended;
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The length of the extension sought;
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The good cause(s) for the extension; and
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Any related timetable and deadline or schedule that would be affected if the extension were granted.
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Good cause exists for an extension when sought in regard to:
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An event of force majeure;
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A delay caused by another party's failure to meet any requirement of this agreement;
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A delay caused by the good faith invocation of dispute resolution or the initiation of judicial action;
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A delay caused, or which is likely to be caused, by the grant of an extension in
regard to another timetable and deadline or schedule; and
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Any other event or series of events mutually agreed to by the Parties as
constituting good cause.
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Absent agreement of the Parties with respect to the existence of good cause, the DOE may seek and obtain a determination through the dispute resolution process that good cause exists.
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Within seven days of receipt of a request for an extension of a timetable and deadline or
a schedule, U.S. EPA shall advise the DOE in writing of its respective position on the request. Any
failure by U.S. EPA to respond within the 7-day period shall be deemed to constitute concurrence in the
request for extension. If U.S. EPA does not concur in the requested extension, it shall include in its
statement of nonconcurrence an explanation of the basis for its position.
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If there is consensus among the Parties that the requested extension is warranted, the
DOE shall extend the affected timetable and deadline or schedule accordingly. If there is no consensus
among the Parties as to whether all or part of the requested extension is warranted, the timetable and
deadline or schedule shall not be extended except in accordance with determination resulting from the
dispute resolution process.
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Within seven days of receipt of a statement of nonconcurrence with the requested
extension, the DOE may invoke dispute resolution.
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A timely and good faith request for an extension shall toll any assessment of stipulated
penalties or application for judicial enforcement of the affected timetable and deadline or schedule until a
decision is reached on whether the requested extension will be approved. If dispute resolution is invoked
and the requested extension is denied, stipulated penalties may be assessed and may accrue from the date
of the original timetable, deadline or schedule. Following the grant of an extension, an assessment of
stipulated penalties or an application for judicial enforcement may be sought only to compel compliance
with the timetable and deadline or schedule as most recently extended.
FORCE MAJEURE
A Force Majeure shall mean any event arising from causes beyond the control of a Party that
causes a delay in or prevents the performance of any obligation under this Agreement, including, but not
limited to, acts of God; fire; war; insurrection; civil disturbance; explosion; unanticipated breakage or
accident to machinery, equipment or lines of pipe despite reasonably diligent maintenance; adverse
weather conditions that could not be reasonably anticipated; unusual delay in transportation; restraint by
court order or order of public authority; inability to obtain, at reasonable cost and after exercise of
reasonable diligence, any necessary authorizations, approvals, permits or licenses due to action or
inaction of any governmental agency or authority other than the DOE; delays caused by Compliance with
applicable statutes or regulations governing contracting, procurement or acquisition procedures, despite
the exercise of reasonable diligence; and insufficient availability of appropriated funds, if the DOE shall
have made timely request for such funds as part of the budgetary process as set forth in Part __ (Funding)
of this Agreement. A Force Majeure shall also include any strike or other labor dispute, whether or not
within the control of the Parties affected thereby. Force Majeure shall not include increased costs or
expenses of Response Actions, whether or not anticipated at the time such Response Actions were
initiated.
FUNDING
It is the expectation of the Parties to this Agreement that all obligations of the DOE arising under
this Agreement will be fully funded. The DOE shall take all necessary steps and make efforts to obtain
timely funding to meet its obligations under this Agreement.
In accordance with Section 120(e)(5)(B) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. §9620(e)(5)(B), the DOE shall
include in its annual report to Congress the specific cost estimates and budgetary proposals associated
with the implementation of this Agreement.
Any requirement for the payment or obligation of funds, including stipulated penalties, by the
DOE established by the terms of this Agreement shall be subject to the availability of appropriated funds,
And no provision herein shall be interpreted to require obligation or payment of funds in violation of the
Anti-Deficiency Act, 31 U.S.C. §1341. In cases where payment or obligation of funds would constitute a
violation of the Anti-Deficiency Act, the dates established requiring the payment or obligation of such
funds shall be appropriately adjusted.
If appropriated funds are not available to fulfill the DOE's obligations under this Agreement,
U.S. EPA and the State reserve the right to initiate any other action which would be appropriate absent
this Agreement.
GENERIC TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR FEDERAL FACILITY AGREEMENTS UNDER CERCLA SECTION 120
- Determinations
- Parties
- Definitions
- Site Description
- Findings of Fact
- Scope of Agreement
- Remedial Investigation
- Feasibility Study
- Interim Remedial Actions
- Remedial Action
- RCRA Closure
- Permits
- Creation of Danger
- Reporting
- Notification
- Project Managers
- Sampling and Data/Document Availability
- Retention of Records
- Site Access
- Five Year Review
- Other Claims
- Confidential Information
- Transfer of Property
- Public Participation
- Public Comment
- Termination
- Effective Date
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